Pedometer.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

W. E. PORTER.

PEDOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED nu 2s, 1902.

B0 MODEL.

W/ TNE SSE S Q 0 c/ Pm A Twinx/masv 'lowing is a UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

l/VILSON E. PORTER, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PEDOIVIETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 18,7 92, datedJanuary 20, 1903. Application filed May 28, 1902. Serial No. 109,338.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILSON E. PORTER, of the city and county of NewHaven, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Pedometers, of Whichthe folfull, clear, and exact description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof, and in Which- Y Figure l represents a rear view of a pedometer(the case being removed) embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a verticalsection on lines 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of thebarrels; Fig. 4, a perspective View of the pinion and springs, and Fig.5 a horizontal section on lines 5 5 'of Fig. 2.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

My invention relates to pedometers or devices for registering thedistance traveled by a pedestrian carrying the same. In meters of thisclass a weighted vibratory lever is jarred from its normal position bythe step of the pedestrian and returned to itsnormal position by aspring. The rotation of the lever on its axis marks the distancetraveled by the pedestrian in his step. When the requisite number ofsteps has been traveled, a mile Will be registered by the pedometer. Asthe length of the steps of different persons varies, it is essential tothe accuracy of the pedometer that the amount of movement of theregistering train of gears on a single movement of the lever should becapable of adjustment. This has hitherto been accomplished by regulatingthe length of the vibration of the lever in its movement, so that in thecase of a person with a long stride the lever may be adj usted tovibrate farther than in the case of a person With a short stride. Thelever has usually been connected to transmit its movement to theregistering train of gears through a ne-toothed ratchet-Wheel, so thatwhen the lever is adjusted to make along stroke in its vibration thepaWl will take up more teeth of the ratchet-Wheel, and consequentlyoperate the gear to a further extent than in the case of a short stroke.Obviously, however, the only variations in the length of a stroke Whichcould be measured by the ratchet must be such as to take up one tooth,more or less,

of the ratchet. Al-

though the teeth may be made very ne to permit a very nice adjustment,an error, although small, When multiplied by the thousands, as when anumber of miles are traveled, Would be sufficient to impair theusefulness of the device.

My invention has for its object a novel construction by which theslightest stroke or movement of the lever Will be registered by thetrain of gears, so that the device may be adjusted to a nicety forvariations in the length of the step of the pedestrian; and it consistsof a rotary member, through which the movement of the lever istransmitted to the train of gears, which is provided with a springengagement with suitable barrels or ianges, so that it is capable offree rotary movement in one direction, While having an instantaneouscheck against movementin the reverse direction.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description, the partsdesignated by the letters A and B represent the movementplates of thepedometer, held in their proper relation to each other by pillars a.

C is a lever having a Weight D at one end and rigidly connected to apost E at the other end. The post E has suitable bearings in the platesA and B.

F is a bridge fitting over one end of the lever and having a perforationfor the post E.

G is a disk frictionally secured to the post E to rotate therewith, andH is a spring secured at one end to the bridge F by pins h or otherwiseand at the other end to the disk G.

`One of the posts ct is shown more particularly in Fig. 2 as extendingupward through the plate A to form a stop, limiting the movement of theWeighted lever C in one direction, and the spring H is adapted tonormally hold the lever C against the stop a.

I is a cam pivoted at 7c, adapted to form an adjustable stop, againstwhich the lever Will strike in its movement When jarred away from thestop a against the tension of the spring H. The cam I is rigidlyconnected to a toothed Wheel L, engaged by a spring M,

so that by overcoming the tension of the spring M the cam may be rotatedto the desired position, Where it Will be held in place by the springengaging in one of the notches on the periphery of the toothed Wheel L.

ICO

Loosely mounted on the post E is a pinion N, which is adapted to meshwith one of the gears of the registering train T and V. The pinion N atits upper end is provided with one or more springs O, curved, as shownmore particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. A barrel P or disk with an annulardepending flange@ is mounted on the post E to rotate with the 1ever C.

When the parts are assembled, the spring or springs O bear against theinner surface of the iiange p in such a way that upon the rotation ofthe pinion in one direction the ends of the spring will slide over thesurface of the iiange, but upon the reverse movement of the pinion thesprings will engage by frictional grip against the inner face of theiiange. By this means the movement of the pinion will be checkedimmediately upon pressure being exerted on the pinion in one direction.At the lower end of the pinion is a similar spring or springs R, whichare adapted to iit into a similar barrel S or disk with an ascendingfiange s and engage the inner surface of the iiange s to likewise checkthe movement of the pinion. The barrel S, as shown in Fig. 2, may berigidly secured to the plate B.

The operation of the device is as follows: Then the lever C is jarredaway from the stop et by the step of the pedestrian, the barrel P isrotated therewith, and as the springs O pre- Vent the rotation ofthe'pinion in the opposite direction from the barrel P the pinion N willbe rotated with the barrel. Upon the reverse movement of the lever underthe tension of the spring l-I the barrel P may slip about the springs O,while the springs R engage the barrel S and prevent the rotation of thepinion. Any movement, therefore, of the lever will be registered, and bymeans of the cam I or other suitable adjusting mechanism the length ofthe stroke of the lever may be varied to a nicety.

I-Iaving now described my invention, (which may vary in its detailsWithout departing from the spirit thereof,) what Iclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratorylever; ofa member rotated therewith and an independent rotary member,one of said members having an annular iange, and the other a spring orsprings, the free ends of which bear against said Bange to engage thesame upon their movement, in one direction, and to move freely on saidIiange in the reverse direction; and a train of gears operated by saidindependent rotary member, substantially as described.

2. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratorylever; of a barrel rotated therewith; a pinion having a spring orsprings, the free ends of which bear against the interior surface ofsaid barrel to engage the same upon their movement in one direction, andto move freely on the same upon the reverse movement; and a train ofgears operated by said pinion, substantially as described.

3. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratorylever; of a bai# rel rotated therewith; a pinion having a spring orsprings, the free ends of which bear against the interior surface ofsaid barrel to engage the same upon their movement in one direction andto move freely on the same in the reverse direct-ion; means for checkingthe movement of said pinion in one direction; and a train of gearsoperated by said pinion, substantially as described.

et. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with the frame;of a vibratory lever mounted thereon; a barrel rotated therenwith; asecondary barrel rigidly mounted on said frame; a pinion having a springor springs, the free ends of which bear against the interior surfaces ofsaid barrels to engage Ythe same upon their movement in one direction,and to move freely on the same upon the reverse movement; and a train ofgears operated by said pinion, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 21st day of May,1902.

WILSON E. PORTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. BEACH, SAMUEL H. FISHER.

